The Taming of the Shrew

1967 movie with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton

Katherina and Petruchio's wedding night

These 5 pages of images represent the wedding night scene from William Shakespeare's
play The Taming of the
Shrew. Daddy has gladly paid daring young Petruchio a handsome Dowry
to marry his shrew daughter, whom Petruchio now says to be his "chattel".
Riiiight. The chattel might have something to say about that...

COME HITHER

That's right, come to Kate

worse than a nice clean frying pan, a nasty bed pan upside the
head

This scene is the 1967 movie plays out what may be called much
"nicer" than in the play, in which Petruchio completely dominates. They cut most
of the Shakespeare speech explaining Petruchio's strategy to exhaust her from
hunger and lack of sleep until she submits. The movie cuts this critical
explanation and does not really express any further strategy until he's tearing
up the dress later on. The film makers seem to have judged Petruchio's
explanation of his strategy too mean and unsympathetic so they just left it out
and put Katherina in ultimate charge here with that bedpan upside the head and
Petruchio waking up with a stiff neck from sleeping on a table.

KATHERINA. I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet;
The meat was well, if you were so contented.
PETRUCHIO. I tell thee, Kate, 'twas burnt and dried away,
And I expressly am forbid to touch it;
For it engenders choler, planteth anger;
And better 'twere that both of us did fast,
Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric,
Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh.
Be patient; to-morrow 't shall be mended.
And for this night we'll fast for company.
Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber. Exeunt

Re-enter SERVANTS severally

NATHANIEL. Peter, didst ever see the like?
PETER. He kills her in her own humour.

Re-enter CURTIS

GRUMIO. Where is he?
CURTIS. In her chamber. Making a sermon of continency to her,
And rails, and swears, and rates, that she, poor soul,
Knows not which way to stand, to look, to speak.
And sits as one new risen from a dream.
Away, away! for he is coming hither. Exeunt

Re-enter PETRUCHIO

PETRUCHIO. Thus have I politicly begun my reign,
And 'tis my hope to end successfully.
My falcon now is sharp and passing empty.
And till she stoop she must not be full-gorg'd,
For then she never looks upon her lure.
Another way I have to man my haggard,
To make her come, and know her keeper's call,
That is, to watch her, as we watch these kites
That bate and beat, and will not be obedient.
She eat no meat to-day, nor none shall eat;
Last night she slept not, nor to-night she shall not;
As with the meat, some undeserved fault
I'll find about the making of the bed;
And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster,
This way the coverlet, another way the sheets;
Ay, and amid this hurly I intend
That all is done in reverend care of her-
And, in conclusion, she shall watch all night;
And if she chance to nod I'll rail and brawl
And with the clamour keep her still awake.
This is a way to kill a wife with kindness,
And thus I'll curb her mad and headstrong humour.
He that knows better how to tame a shrew,
Now let him speak; 'tis charity to show. Exit